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Another excellent fragrance from Calvin Klein!

---Intro---Unless I decide to start reviewing aftershaves that my boyfriend wears (now...there's a thought!), this is going to be my last perfume review at least for the foreseeable future. As a creature of habit I have used CK One as my perfume for many years now, although nowadays I intersperse using it with the gorgeous DKNY's Be Delicious, and Next's Just Pink and I've now reviewed all of them.

When I split up with my ex I did think that I needed a change, and bought a bottle of CK Be when my CK One ran out - I had tried it in shops over the years and had always been a bit tempted. It wasn't a big change from CK One, but it was a change nonetheless. However, after I'd finished that 50ml bottle I went back to CK One, just out of habit really(to be honest I think I like both equally). And I thought that was it...

That is until one of the best days of my life when I found an almost full 200ml (BIG!)bottle of CK Be on my boyfriends bathroom cabinet (along with an almost full bottle of CK One)...so really it seems rude not to use it at least occasionally.

---CK Be---Like CK One, CK Be is a Unisex fragrance (CK's second unisex fragrance, launched in 1996), which is ideal for me, as I'm assuming that's why my boyfriend has a bottle and that it's his. Although I imagine his ex girlfriend was a number of things, I can't imagine she'd be so stupid as to leave this behind. I have found information online saying that "whilst CK One is based on the idea of bonding and sharing, the complementary and contrasting CK Be advocates the "be-yourself" concept". I'm not entirely convinced...they're both perfumes and they're both nice - isn't that all that you need to know?

---The Bottle---The perfume comes in a plain black card box which lists the ingredients. The black coloured glass bottle is very simple and I think elegant in its simplicity. It simple says "Calvin Klein" and "CK Be" - it is very similar to the CK One bottle. When you get a bottle it has a screw on cap, but comes with a spray attachment which you can put on - this makes the perfume go further. Like with CK One the nozzles are good and I've never had any wastage.

---Wearing the fragrance and the scent---Like all perfumes I spray onto my wrists and neck. I'm fairly liberal with its application since I'm not worried about the bottle running out - 200ml will last a long time if I'm only using it occasionally (I was so excited finding these big bottles since I've only ever been able to afford small bottles)! I feel that CK Be is quite subtle and even if you do overspray it's not likely to overpower you (or others).

It is described as a fresh and sexy fragrance suitable for casual use. According to my Internet research the scent has top notes of Bergamot, Juniper Berry, Mandarin, Mint, Lavender and White Musk, middle notes of Light Spices, Magnolia, Peach and White Musk, and base notes of Sandalwood, Opoponax, Tonka Bean and White Musk. These notes mean absolutely nothing to me, although Tonka Bean sounds quite funny!

Personally I think it has a lovely smell. Although it is different from CK One, I don't think it's COMPLETELY different. I think that if you like one then you'll probably like the other. I think it's a bit less floral than CK One (not that that's a very floral scent anyway), and a bit more musky (now that could be the white musk which is in all of the notes!) - perhaps ever so slightly more masculine, but this does definitely suit men and women equally well.

Like CK One I don't think that this is the longest lasting fragrance, and can only detect a slight hint at the end of the day. But now I have a big bottle that doesn't matter as I can always reapply! I haven't had any comments from people whilst wearing CK Be as I do with my DKNY fragrance, but I don't mind. I think that it's a subtle fragrance which blends in, and really as long as I like the smell, and as long as I don't get any negative comments then I'm happy!

---Price and other info---It comes in 50ml, 100ml and 200ml bottles, which can be purchased for around £17, £27 and £34 respectively (Amazon prices - you might find it cheaper elsewhere). I think that for such a good quality fragrance, this isn't too bad at all.

There are other products in the range such as deodorant and moisturiser which I haven't tried. I imagine that wearing them would enhance the smell, and could be worth trying if you fall in love with this scent.

---Finally---I think that CK Be is a nice everyday scent. But remember that different fragrances suit different people, so you should always try before you buy - that's what perfume counters in department stores are for after all!

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Great fresh fragrance for men and women

CK be was launched in 1996 and is described as a fresh scent and was also designed as a unisex fragrance suitable for men and women.

The bottle as you can see in the picture above is a very simple design. The glass bottle is matte black which has a soft, almost velvety feel to it. Obviously the design was meant to appeal to both men and women as this is a unisex fragrance, and although this design doesn't put me off, I can't help but feel that the design is more masculine than feminine. I feel the bottle reflects the scent of the fragrance well, and although I wouldn't describe this as a simple fragrance, it is fresh and clean and this is reflected in the clean lines of the bottle. The bottle is contained in a black box of the same design.

To me this is a very unusual and distinctive scent. It is indeed fresh but also smells quite sweet with quite a sharp edge. This is quite a hard scent to describe as is like nothing else I have ever discovered on the market. It is such a multi-layered fragrance with so many different elements. The fragrance does have decent staying power. It is an easy to wear scent that I would recommend for casual wear. I am a big fan of this, my only problem with it is that it isn't quite as strong as I would like.

--A guide to prices and availability--

CK be is a popular fragrance and is widely available on the high street and also online.

As you would expect from Calvin Klein, this is a great quality fragrance with an extremely modest price tag. The following prices are a guide to what you can expect to pay for this fragrance online at www.cheapsmells.co.uk:

50ml - £14.45100ml - £21.85200ml - £26.94

Cheapsmells also offer free delivery which I have found to be very efficient.

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Nice unisex perfume, nothing wrong with it really but I prefer ladies perfume.

My husband received some of the unisex perfume CK Be as a present, but as he wasn't keen on it (he said it didn't smell quite manly enough for him, even though I liked it on him), I automatically ended up on my dressing table.

~~Bottle~~Launched in 1996, CK Be is designed by Calvin Klein and comes in a quite utilitarian black glass bottle, a black version of the CK One perfume which was released before it. The bottle is definately leaning towards the manly side, and it's a far cry from the feminine perfume bottles I usually buy, but as this was free for me, I can't complain too much. I think the bottle could put some ladies off it as a unisex fragrance though.

~~Price~~Depending on where you buy it, whether that's in a perfume shop, or online, the prices can vary. A 50ml bottle such as the one I have can be between £13 and £25, so it really is worth shopping around for this fragrance as there are big discounts to be had.

~~Scent~~Officially described as refreshing, oriental, and woody, CK Be does tick all those boxes. When you first spray it there is quite an alcoholic smell to the fragrance, it's very strong and it takes a few minutes for this to settle down. After that, there is a warm muskiness to the fragrance which is cut through with a sharp and fruity citrus scent which I like, and which stops the fragrance from feeling male orientated. The fruitiness lasts well throughout the fragrance, but the musk and later sandalwood notes stop this from ever feeling sweet. Although magnolia is stated as a note, this is subtle and there are no obviously floral tones present to scare men away. Overall, I thought the smell was quite nice for a unisex scent and I have no problem in 'borrowing' this from my husband for my own use.

~~Staying Power~~I find that this fragrance, though pretty strong and alcoholic to start with, actually burns out in a just average time. Usually after 3 hours of wearing this fragrance, I can't smell it on my skin unless I get really close to my wrists, so after that time it needs reapplying, if I can be bothered to do so. When my husband used this a few times, I noticed the smell seemed to last longer on him, so this might work differently on different people (or even just men!), and with him the scent lasted maybe 5 hours in total, plenty for a night out I think.

~~Overall~~For a unisex scent, this quite nice. I have to admit I prefer scents that are designed for women solely, as I like the lighter floral notes that this fragrance is lacking. Given my husband only really uses it in emergencies, or if he's between bottles of aftershave, then I'll keep this fragrance for occasional use. Although there's nothing really wrong with it, I'll stick to my more feminine scents.

I think some men would love this fragrance as a departure from normal heavy manly scents, but it's definitely not my husband's favourite fragrance, either n himself or on me!

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better than ck one

I like to smell good and try out body care and after shave products. The ck be eau de toilette is one I have worn on and off and its a bit deeper than the normal ck one eau de toilette I have used.

The bottle you get the ck be in is the same as the normal ck one bottle but black. The black bottle looks ok but it can end up with finger print marks on it after use. They do dry up and go away mostly but look a mess if left there.

You can buy ck be in a 50ml size eau de toilette for as low as £15 and I think thats a good price. You can get bigger bottles that will cost more to buy. I think even a small bottle will last a few months.

The aroma from ck be is very fresh and clean with some musk. I think its too after shave like for a woman. The fragrance is sold as unisex. Women might not think that it smells a bit too manly but its best to know before buying and try it out first.

I think the fresh aroma from ck be is good for a man to put on after shaving use it that way. The musk aroma is what makes ck be last a bit on my skin and I think it stays on better than ck one does.

I get a flowery and musky aroma from ck be that is fresh and not too strong. It is deeper than ck on and more enjoyable to wear. I think it can last me a few hours before I forget its there.

I think a man of any age can wear ck be and enjoy it. It is cool and fresh with sweeter flowers and musk and I think it suits day and night wear with no problems.

I would recommend ck be more than ck one because it its a more complex aroma that wears better.

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A classic clean fragrance from Calvin Klein

CK Be is another of those fragrances that I have been wearing on and off ever since I was in high school but unlike some of the others it has never became unfashionable (I'm looking at you Kuros) or associated with either old men or teenagers (Yep Farhenheit that's you). Instead it has remained as fresh and disctinctive as the day it was released.

CK Be is a unisex frangrance by Calvin Klein that was created by perfumer Ann Gotilieb and was first released in 1996 to compliment the companies other unisex fragrance CK One which was released two years previously. Launched to a huge marketing campaign that featured black and white TV spots featuring Calvin Klein muse Kate Moss telling people to just be what they wanted to be was a huge success and it has remained one of Calvin Kleins signature scents even today when the company has more than 25 fragrances on the market.

CK Be is designed to be the complete opposite of the CK One fragrance and this is made obvious by the difference of the design. Whereas CK One is made with clear glass and comes in light packaging the CK Be bottle is made of black glass and comes in a black cardboard box. On the bottle is a black screw top lid if you have the splash version or a pull off black cap with the spray. The bottle is etched with a large CK and the be underneath it and then the name Calvin Klein on the bottom. To me the bottle looks very sleek and minamalist and it completely represents the design aesthetic of the Calvin Klein brand.

CK Be contains top notes of Bergamot, Juniper Berry, Mandarin, Mint, Lavender and White Musk. Heart notes of Light Spices, Magnolia, Peach and White Musk. The base notes contain Sandalwood, Opoponax, Tonka Bean and White Musk.This seems a lot of different scents that are going to be vying for attention but the beauty of CK Be is that it is so discreet and all the notes compliment each other perfectly without any one of them overpowering the other.

Although this is a unisex fragrance to me personally I think CK Be is more suited to a man. That's not to say that it would smell strange on a woman as it is light and floral enough to be unisex but the addition of the white musk and sandlewood give it decidedly masculine edge. To me CK Be and Calvin Klein in general is all about a clean fresh feeling and it does it so well. A few sprays of CK Be will instantly refresh and invigorate me and it has a really pure smell to it that works great for the daytime.

Although it is light it is also very distinctive and nothing else I have ever smelt is even remotely similair to this. It is the type of fragrance that you apply in the morning and go to wk and feel like it is lasting all day even though it will never be overpowering as it blends with your own natural smell so well and only gives off subtle scents throughout the day.

CB Be is widely available all over the high street and surprisingly it is actually at the more reasonable end of the scale as far as designer fragrances go. A 50ml bottle will set you back around £15 to £20 whilst a 100ml bottle will be about £25 depending on where you buy it. It is the type of fragrance that caries wildly on price so it pays to have a look around.

If you decide you like it you can also buy the different products that are available to compliment it. These include deodrant sticks, body washes,body moisturisers and all over body sprays. Some of these are better than others but if you like the smell and want it to be a bit more potent then these will help with that.

To me CK Be is a classic scent that really does embody the ethos of the Calvin Klein brand in that it is clean and modern without being heavy and overpowering. It is the ideal fragrance for these brisk Autumn days and being unisex means you can even share it with your significant other.

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A great unisex fragrance from Calvin Klein

A fragrance that I absolutely adore is that belonging to Calvin Klein, namely CK Be Eau de toilette and I was surprised to discover that Coty Prestige manufactured this fragrance for Calvin Klein.

I was also astonished to learn that this absolutely stunning fragrance has been around for so long, as it was launched fourteen years ago in 1996. Whilst this was purchased for my hubby last Christmas by my younger sister, as soon as I became aware that it could also be worn by women, I haven't been able to keep my hands off it and have since been using it on a daily basis!

The bottle hubby owns is 50ml and is contained within a black glass bottle, which measures 11½ cm in height. In my opinion, both the feel and appearance of this product are quite sophisticated, as the glass is extremely smooth to the touch and its' simple lettering of CK Be and the Calvin Klein logo which is situated underneath are considerably eye-catching. I'm presuming Dooyoo's photograph, as show above, is an older version, as hubby's bottle shows the lettering of "ck" in identical sizes, whereas the photograph shows a larger letter "k".

The product is presented in a cardboard box, which mirrors the front of the bottle and whilst it has now been discarded, as far as I can recall, it was protected with a small amount of lightweight corrugated cardboard. When you take out the bottle from the box you will see a small screw top lid, which needs to be removed and the provided atomizer spray inserted and screwed into place.

The eau de toilette is easily dispensed and a reasonable amount of the fragrance is released via the tiny opening within the upper section and in hubby's experience, only one or two sprays are required. As soon as the fragrance is released you are able to witness the enchanting top notes of bergamot and mandarin. I have since learned that there is also mint contained within the top notes, but to be honest, I cannot say I've noticed its' aroma.

The top notes are very light and are only evident for a short while when they are followed by the extremely relaxing heart notes of lavender, juniper and sandalwood, which are apparent for a good couple of hours. The base notes of magnolia, peach and amber complete the delightful combination of notes contained within this fragrance and whilst this is an eau de toilette as opposed to an eau de parfum, they are obvious for at least 5 - 6 hours.

Whilst this fragrance is aimed for casual use due to it being an eau de toilette, my opinion is that it can be worn at any time of the day. Both hubby and I only need to spray one or two applications first thing in the morning and we are able to sense its' stunning aroma for the remainder of the day.

A good tip I have learned to enable your fragrance to last is to apply it to the lower section of your body, thus allowing its' aroma to rise. I also tend to spray fragrance on my hair, as each time your head is turned the beautiful aroma is released. I would never have imagined a fragrance to be unisex, but it is the case with CK Be, as whilst some fragrances are either feminine or masculine, this is neither. Consequently, I would say this is most definitely suited to both men and women and I cannot recommend this fragrance highly enough, so it receives 5 out of 5 dooyoo stars from me.

CK Be is widely available and can be purchased in stores such as Boots, Superdrug and Debenhams. I have checked online for the best price for you and would advise that Cheap Smells seems most competitive as they sell a 50ml bottle for £13.80, a 100ml bottle for £20.54 and a 200ml bottle for £26.99. In my opinion, these are exceptionally good prices for a premium product.

Unfortunately, the bottle does not provide us with the recycling symbol, but I am presuming the bottle is suitable for this purpose, particularly as it is manufactured from glass. Once opened the fragrance needs to be used within 36 months.

I hope you found my review useful and would thank you for reading.

This review may also be posted on Ciao under my same user name.

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Calvin Klein CK Be

Be whatever you want to be: Calvin Klein CK Be

'Be whatever you want to be' is the slogan for the fragrance of Calvin Klein CK Be. I wonder who ever come up with these slogans and if they really spend a week deciding which is the best. The slogan doesn't really says anything about the fragrance itself and I don't think the fragrance is suddenly going to make me decide to change my life. But I didn't buy the fragrance for it's slogan and it's surely isn't the most important thing about it.

I do have to say I like this Calvin Klein CK Be. It has a really fresh but little bit spicy feeling to it when you smell it. It's like after the rain when you walk on the street, everything smells suddenly fresh and clean. The scent is very light and refreshing, but stays on you during the day. I think it's more a daytime scent where you don't want to overwhelm the people around you. The fragrance is unisex which really shows in the scent, because it's not overly flower scent and also not a really manly musky scent. It's more in between.

The bottle does state more as a man bottle, which it black oval shape form. It certainly doesn't scream woman to me and do wonder if women would actually go for this bottle in the shop. You would think looks don't matter, but I think they do in this case. The bottle itself comes in different sizes and of course also then in different prizes! The one I had was a 100ml bottle and it lasted me for a couple of months to half a year, but I didn't really use it every day, so it's hard to tell how long it will really last.

Calvin Klein CK Be is really a nice fresh but more natural scent that you can use for during the day. It's a very light smell, which makes it pleasant for yourself but also for the people around you. It's another good one of Calvin Klein!

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If you try it for free at boots, you're not loosing any thing but might just gain a new friend.

Ironically this was a gift to my boyfriend at Christmas, who didn't understand the concept of a unisex fragrance, so when I started to use it my self it did spark up some remarks.

So what makes this a good fragrance for both men and women? - It is quite hard to put into word, but it lacks the sweet floralness of a lot of female perfumes just leaving behind the freshness. That said it is also quite musky creating an overall clean smell. Personally I cant define any more separate scents but apparently it also contains peach, juniper berries, and sandalwood.

At first I was a bit cautious wearing it, as I didn't want any one to start thinking I was wearing men's cologne, but after so many compliment and friends asking 'is that a new perfume? Ooo what is it?' my confidence has grown and it is now one of my favourite scents.

It isn't too overpowering yet doesn't fade away half way through the day. I recommend you try it out at Boots or somewhere before buying though, as it is one of the more expensive perfumes and not to every ones taste. The bottle does last for ages though and looks splendid on my dressing table.

The CK be website describes it as an individual carefree perfume and yes I full heartily agree with that.

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A fresh and versatile fragrance

I often find floral perfumes a bit overpowering for daytime wear, so a fresh fragrance like CK Be is perfect for me. The overall impression is of a refreshing and clean fragrance, with an underlying hint of white musk. Musky notes can, I think, sometimes be a bit stale-smelling, but the combination of white musk with the cool top notes keeps the musk fresh. The pairing of warmth and coolness is unusual, and it is this that makes it suitable for both men and women. Some women might find it a little aftershavey, but I love the fresh coolness that is not often found in fragrances that are exclusively for women.

The fragrance lasts for ages and is a sexy evening fragrance as well as a light daytime one. There is no need to reapply it for the evening if you've had it on all day, as it will still be smelling as fresh as it did in the morning. Having said that, a top-up will boost the sensuality of the fragrance for evening wear.

The bottle is simple in shape, and made in a funky black-tinted glass. As well as looking cool, this will help the fragrance to keep longer, as it will stop the light degrading it. The spray reaches every last drop of the fragrance, which is great - there's nothing more annoying than having to wrestle with the bottle to get the last little bit out!

CK Be is not the cheapest of fragrances, but in terms of the depth of the fragrance and the length of time it lasts on the skin, you get what you pay for. Don't let the price put you off, as it's worth it, and you can often find it cheaper than the RRP in discount chemists.

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good price good smell good product

Ok I used to wear CKone years ago but then it seemed like every other person was wearing ot to . so i switched to Ck B and really preferred it. I have been wearing fo a long time since.. dont get me wrong I have tried other fragrences such as happy tommy joop ect but keep comng back to this. i evern tried the new CKn2u but still found b to be superior.

Plus now as it has been on the market now for quite a few years it has the added bonus of being relitvley cheap. at 14:99 maybe not the moset trndyest scent out there but still defintkey my favourite and I think fairky unique it does not have that horrible "aftershave smell" a lot of fragrences have. Yes I'm looking at you tommy sport. just nice simple fresh subtle smell plus my wife like it so i can't go wrong :)

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I first decided that i liked this particular fragrance some time last year when my brother came back from shopping with bags full of different perfumes and face products, CK Be being one of them - I had seen the perfume before as i own CK one and have seen the very similarly designed, CK Be on many occasions although i had never smelt it for myself. I could smell my brother wearing it one day and was pleased to be informed that this lovely fragrance was unisex!! I dont think James has seen it since! The bottle of 220ml has lasted well over 8 months now as you dont need to use as much as you might with other perfumes. It is not a strong fragrance but can only be described as cooling and subtle. The bottle is a very good design, exactly the same style, design and shape as CK one with a handy atomizer nozzle which sprays a fine mist over you. The bottle is also good for men who want to just 'slap-it-on' as you can remove the nozzle and pour a small amount into the palm of your hand. The perfume is an all-rounder in that it can be dressed up for the evenings or dressed down for casual wear and throughout the day. It has great staying power and the smell remains wafting around you all the day so you stay smelling great! It is a very light fragrance and so isnt overpowering in the slightest. CK Be can be quite expensive at around £24 depending on where you get it from and also the volume of the bottle you buy but it is definitely worth it as it lasts for ages without you having to go out and spend more money onthe same perfume. Everyoe should at least try this fragrance and decide for themselves whether they like it or not but i would definitely recommend thet everyone should own a bottle!!

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I have to say that this is a really sexy smell, that totally attracts the opposite sex. It's perfect for both men and women, and totally obliterates classic bodge (nasty, unattractive body odour). I can't help it, if a man is wearing this, I totally cling to him, like a thin film of plastic round a cheese and pickle sandwich. It has both a floral quality, touched with the wand of masculinity. It is of utmost benefit for those of you out there, looking for love. Very refreshing, with a scent that has the staying power of Sir Cliff Richard. Simple packaging, and can be worn both day and night. Lads, do you remember what a great effect "Jazz" had on the girls at school? (if you were born around 1970something)- (I wasn't, mind you). Well, it's better than that! Gentlemen, slap it all over, as opposed to "Brut" or "Old Spice" - for these are not good. (pretty repulsive actually). Girls, give up on the "Exclamation" and "Charlie" - for these are cheap and nasty, with the about the same amount of appeal as Anthea Turner eating a chocolate bar, whilst slobbering over Grant Bovey, who is wearing "Tabac". And Finally, Ladies, Stop using "Anais Anais" and "Lou Lou", they smell like the ransid marzipan on a christmas cake that was baked in 1978. BUY C.K.Be, it rocks!!!

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I first brought this product about a year ago and I was rather impressed by the smell. It was a present for my father for his birthday, and I though I would give it to him as a gift as an alternative to CK one. The bottle is labelled well and is unisex, although I tend to find that it has a more masculine smell. It is strong and musky and it lasts a long time. It feels refreshing when placed onto the skin and smells loads better than CK one. It costs around £20, which is a bargain, especially for Ck products. Its suitable for everyone and it isn't too over powering. It is my dads favourite fragrance, and he continues to use it. The bottle isn't all that big, but it does go a real long way and I recommend that you give it a try.

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I went shopping last week and suddenly got the urge to buy myself some perfume so for no apparent reason I decide on CK Be and it is fantastic, the smell is so refreshing, and lasting. I don't ask much of a perfume other than it should smell nice and this lives upto my expectations. I am a sporty person and the fragrance is sort of sporty. I like nice, strong smelling scents and this is one. There are other's in the Calvin Klein range but I prefer this one. It is said that is a unisex perfume but I personally think it is for women, it is for the women who wants a stronger smelling scent but not that strong. Some perfumes, which own like Jean Paul Gaultier the smell is not lasting, within an hour or so it is gone but with this perfume you can smell the difference. I feel that this perfume can be worn for any occasion, the scent is just perfect. I'm glad I purchased this. The packaging is very attractive which helps. You can purchase this perfume at most perfume shops. One I’d recommend you buy.

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Product Details

Calvin Klein CK Be EDT For Him ; is a light, refreshing, oriental, woody fragrance with an independent attitude / An intense combination of sensuality and freedom / CK Be fragrance makes a sensual, intimate statement with a scent so subtle, that special someone has to get very close to you to locate this tantalizing scent / CK Be is a unique tonic musk that's clean and fresh / It draws them in without being overpowering.